§ 39. Mr. Nigel Birchasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make about the circulation of the Eastern mark in the Western sectors of Berlin.
§ Mr. BirchIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the grave currency chaos and black market activities in Western Berlin, and does he recognise how damaging these are to the industry and morale of the people there?
Mr. McNeilI must admit, of course, that there is great maladjustment and complication, but as the hon. Gentleman 917 doubtless knows, a committee of experts is at present considering this subject, and my right hon. Friend would not consider that a statement at this time would assist that committee.
§ 40. Mr. Birchasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the household fuel ration of coal for space heating in the Western sectors of Berlin; and to what extent that ration is being honoured.
Mr. McNeilBecause of the blockade, it has not been possible to make a regular issue of coal or firewood for domestic heating in the Western sectors of Berlin this winter. A total of 27,000 tons of coal has been issued in rations varying from one quarter to one and three-quarter hundredweight according to circumstances of households. In addition every household has received about two hundredweight of wood. There is also a regular distribution of one quarter of a hundredweight of coal per month for cooking purposes made to all households which have neither gas nor electricity laid on for cooking.
§ 41. Mr. Birchasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are unemployed and how many persons are working short time in the Western sectors of Berlin.
Mr. McNeil120,969 persons are unemployed, and 63,607 are working short time in the Western sectors of Berlin.
§ Mr. BirchDo not the answers to these three Questions indicate a steadily deteriorating condition in Berlin, and does the right hon. Gentleman think it at all likely that the Russians will lift the blockade as long as we go on delivering things to Russia and the countries behind the iron curtain?
Mr. McNeilI do not see that I am asked to reply that the morale of the German people in our zone of Berlin will be increased by denying them any rations at all.
§ Mr. J. Langford-HoltIs it the policy of the Government to work on the assumption that the Berlin blockade can be continued indefinitely?
42. Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conversations he is now holding with the U.S.S.R. 918 with a view to their lifting the prolonged blockade of Berlin; and what progress he can report.
Mr. McNeilNone, Sir. As the House knows, the discussions which were in progress last summer were suspended because the Soviet Commander-in-Chief, on instructions from his Government, refused to abide by the directive agreed upon in Moscow, and the Berlin situation was thereupon referred to the Security Council.